Race to playoffs: What each team needs to do?

• RCB, SRH and GT lead the race for the first IPL 2026 playoff spot
• Three teams are tied on 14 points with 80% chance of qualifying
• MI and LSG are eliminated as the race for the four spots intensifies

The IPL 2026 is inching slowly towards a thrilling race to the playoffs. With less than a fortnight remaining until the final on May 31 at the Narendra

Modi Stadium, no team has emerged as the front-runner in the race and qualified for the first playoff spot. RCB, SRH, and GT are all tied on 14 points from 11 matches. PBKS, which was looking so promising, has also remained stagnant in the fourth spot with 13 points from 11 matches after losing their last game against the DC, which was also their fourth consecutive loss.

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are fifth and sixth, both with 12 points. Even Delhi Capitals (10 points in 12 matches) and Kolkata Knight Riders (9 in 10 matches) are in with a chance.

Naturally, the race to the four playoff spots is blown open. But how many points does a team need to qualify for that spot?

How Many Points Does A Team Need To Qualify For IPL Playoffs?

Usually, it has been seen that the magic number to qualify for the playoffs has been 16 points since 2022 (when IPL became a 10-team format). In 2022 (RCB), 2023 (MI) and 2025 (MI), all the teams which qualified for the fourth playoff spot usually finished on 14 points.

So that is the minimum that teams generally require to advance. Only in 2024 did four teams finish on 14 points - Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants - with RCB progressing due to a superior net run rate as the fourth-best team.

According to the IPL's official broadcasters, GT, RCB and SRH have an 80 per cent chance of qualifying in 2026 after Monday's result. PBKS (62.5 per cent), CSK (42.7 per cent) and RR (41.8 per cent) are the next favourites to advance. KKR (11.6 per cent) and DC (1.2 per cent) have a tough task at hand. The Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have been eliminated.

Position	Team	Chance of Qualification (%)
1	Gujarat Titans	80.2
2	Royal Challengers Bengaluru	80.1
3	Sunrisers Hyderabad	80.0
4	Punjab Kings	62.5
5	Chennai Super Kings	42.7
6	Rajasthan Royals	41.8
7	Delhi Capitals	1.2
8	Kolkata Knight Riders	11.6
9	Mumbai Indians (E)	0.0
10	Lucknow Super Giants (E)	0.0